The 50 States of Waste: How Waste-to-Energy Definitions Vary Across the Nation

The definition of waste-to-energy (WTE) can be an edgy topic, surrounded by cloudy waters and steeped in heated debates. This confusion and controversy is especially relevant when discussing what counts as renewable energy, in which states, and how much money it's worth.

Even within state lines there is contention, and the rules keep changing — challenging utilities that are required to generate more alternative energy sources, and rocking the playing field for plants that compete for these utilities' dollars.